Crutcher, Chris,  Angry Management.  Greenwillow, 2009.  9780060502478.  $16.99.  Grades 7 to 11.

In this collection of three stories, assorted characters from an early morning counseling group in Eastern Washington come face to face with anger and rage.  Sometimes it’s their own, as in the case of Montana West, the rebellious goth girl who channels the rage she feels toward the foster-care system and her adopted father into a fight for free expression.  Sometimes it’s the rage of others, as in the story of Marcus James, the black, openly-gay genius swimmer who comes up against the bigotry of his small town on a daily basis.  Featuring a broad cast of teen characters, including the extremely overweight guy with two sets of gay parents, the born-again Christian jock, and the reclusive smart girl with severe burns, Chris Crutcher delivers powerful stories with direct relevance to the lives of modern teens.    -John Andrews